INDEPENDENT EXPERTS PROPOSE CROATIA'S FAST ENTRY TO EU

SPLIT, Feb 23 (Hina) - By 2006 Croatia can join the European Union if it consistently implements a programme entitled "A new Croatia: Fast Forward into Europe", written by a group of independent Croatian experts, members of the European Civil Initiative for Democratic Alternative or EGIDA, asserted Secretary-General of European Movement Croatia, Ljubomir Cucic. The programme, presented in the coastal city of Split on Wednesday evening, is actually the summary of the book entitled "Hrvatska Agenda 2000 (Croatian Agenda 2000)". The experts in EGIDA made it with the help of the European Movement Croatia and the Brussels-based Centre for European Political Studies. The programme was published in Brussels and Zagreb in 1999. It is a strategy for Croatia's speedy accession to the EU, proposing the establishment of free trade with neighbouring countries and the EU, the cancellation of the national currency 'kuna' and launching of euro in 2003 and absolute liberalisation and de-regulation of foreign investments, Cucic said. According to him, progress should be more important than social policies, the European legislation will be superior to the national, the society should be de-politicized and cuts in number of soldiers and means for military purposes be done. A financial expert, Andjelko Bilusic, co-author of the programme, held that it would be very difficult for Croatia to compensate for delays and catch up with Europe and other countries in transition on the path toward European association processes. To achieve those goals, Croatia must first solve economic problems and record development much better than what the new Government is planning for the coming period, he claimed. (hina) ms